So far, so good. After an 0-3 start, in which they were twice
blanked 1-0 (at Washington and Montreal), the Ducks managed to put
together a couple of solid performances.
Coach Craig Hartsburg's first Anaheim win came against his former
team, the Chicago Blackhawks, who fired him after they failed to
make the playoffs for the first time in 29 years (a then-record
streak that eclipsed second-place St. Louis by a full decade). But
the Chicago tilt was also a coming out party for Paul Kariya and
Teemu Selanne, both of whom registered three points, and who have
been dominating since -- although Kariya says he and Teemu aren't
clicking "anywhere near" the level they hope to get to soon.
Most important for management and the coaching staff, however, has
been Anaheim's overall defensive play. While there have been times
that things behind the blue line looked fundamentally unchanged
from last year, the Ducks have largely been playing solid team
defense. At press time, they had given up just 10 goals over the
first six games, which isn't bad. Knock off the four surrendered in
the game two spanking at Philadelphia, and the stats tell a happy
story.
We noted here that -- and this isn't brain surgery -- the key to
Anaheim's success would be a turnaround in team defense that could
contain the opposition until the big guns, a.k.a. Paul and Teemu,
worked their magic. Thus far, that commitment by Ducks forwards to
helping out in their own end has been evident.
Also helping has been the continued emergence of defenseman Mike
Crowley, whose offensive prowess has been a catalyst to the Anaheim
power play. Crowley finished strong last year and has continued to
shine early on -- so much so that when Ruslan Salei's five-game
suspension for a preseason transgression against Phoenix's Daniel
Briere ended, Hartsburg scratched the big Russian in favor of the
slight Minnesotan. Crowley had three assists (tying a Ducks rookie
record) against Boston, and five points through the first six
games.
HOME OWNERS
The win over Boston in their home opener was more than just a
much-needed two points; it was a major moral victory. Last season,
Anaheim won just 11 games at home. Needless to say, another similar
dismal record would spell disaster for the denizens of The Pond.
And while the team came out flat (after two widely publicized bad
practices) against Phoenix, surrendering a goal in the opening
minute, they rallied for two third-period scores and eked out a
tie.
A REAL RIVALRY
All right, so the team has a ridiculous name, no history to speak
of, and fans who often prefer the antics of the mascot to the game
on the ice. But, damn it, they've got a rivalry. The phrase "no
love lost" doesn't do justice to the feelings (and fisticuffs) that
fly between Anaheim and Phoenix (whose "Hef's Pajamas" uniforms
more than offset Anaheim's silly name).
Jeremy Roenick, the Phoenix star who -- with no apologies to Keith
Tkachuk -- has been the heart and soul of every team he's ever
played on, admits to a "bad taste" left over from the Coyotes
first-round 1997 playoff loss. "I try to play every game the same,"
said J.R., "but, obviously, there are situations that are
different." For Roenick, that means playing Chicago and, now,
Anaheim.
Tough guy Jim McKenzie knows both sides of that street. Asked his
first reaction upon being traded to the Ducks, the former Coyotes
enforcer was hardly circumspect. "Geez," he more or less said, "I
hate those guys." But now that Paul and Teemu are his meal tickets,
he hates the other guys. McKenzie dished out four serious hits
against his old mates and, though less to his credit, took a couple
of aggressive penalties.
But who knows? Maybe having a real rivalry will inspire the fans to
do less Jumbotron-watching and more puck-watching.
A REAL No. 2?
Having scored the game-winning goal against Chicago -- his first
winner in over a year with Anaheim -- Tomas Sandstrom hopes to be
well on his way to forgetting his disastrous previous campaign.
The feisty Swede is part of
what Hartsburg hopes will be a reliable -- and productive -- second
line, along with center Travis Green and left wing Johan Davidsson.
Davidsson, a 1994 draft pick who was a mere "In the System" entry
in the current media guide after finally signing with the Ducks
this summer, has impressed with solid two-way play. And Green, who
is as anxious as his coaches to achieve the potential he showed in
his first three seasons, seems a good fit between the two.
Truth be told, the Ducks have never really had a productive second
unit. If this trio can put up a few points while maintaining an
overall plus rating, a long-term Anaheim problem could be solved.
Of course, if Sandstrom had put up the numbers last year, the issue
might have been moot.
BANH-ISHED
You had to figure Frank Banham would have a tough time cracking a
Craig Hartsburg lineup, and so far that has proven to be the case.
Banham, a gifted offensive player who showcased his natural scoring
ability down the stretch last year, was the final forward cut
before the season opened. Hartsburg felt Banham, who led Canadian
Junior hockey with 83 goals in 1995-96, needed work on his D more
than Anaheim needed his wicked shot.
That will only hold true as long as someone else lights the lamp,
however. It says here Banham will be back.
